In a rare public appearance since returning from a medical vacation in the United Kingdom (UK), President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday joined other Muslim faithful to participate in the Juma’at prayers in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Other dignitaries who observed the prayer session in the Aso Rock mosque ‎ yesterday were the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Mongunu (rtd), Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura.

Others included the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Baru Maikanti and other top government officials also observed the Juma’at prayer in the mosque.

President Buhari’s appearance for prayers yesterday may have doused public concerns ‎over his health status, which has continued to heighten tension in the political atmosphere of the country.

Recall that the President last week failed to participate in the usual Friday Juma’at prayer session in the State House mosque located in the Presidential villa.

It was the second time ‎President Buhari would be conspicuously absent from Juma’at since his return from the medical vacation.The first, on Friday, March 10, 2017 when he returned, owed ostensibly to his doctors’ recommendation for further rest.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, had in a statement said the doctors had advised the President on the need to slow down in order to fully recover from the long weeks of treatment.

“Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation,” he said.Garba noted that despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should be rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

“God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London. We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already.

“We pray that God continues to see him through this period of recuperation,” Garba added.On Wednesday, President Buhari for the third time since his return to Nigeria was absent from the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

While briefing State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, denied suggestions making the rounds that the absence of President Buhari could be confirmation that he was allegedly being fed via an intravenous arrangement.

An online medium had reported that the President’s health condition had deteriorated and heavily weighed down to a point that he was currently finding it difficult to feed himself.

The report said, apart from the issue of prostrate challenges, President Buhari was also affected by a medical condition known as “Crohn’s disease,” that has affected his digestive system.

Two weeks ago, the President sought the indulgence of FEC members to allow him have some rest and operate from his official residence located within the Presidential villa.